Alexandria LaunchLabs, the Premier Life Science Startup Platform, Celebrates Inaugural Member Class of Rigorously Selected Companies in Cambridge and Announces First Investment Through the Alexandria Seed Capital Platform in the Cluster

Alexandria LaunchLabs - Cambridge will convene members of the Cambridge life science ecosystem for a strategic event featuring preeminent industry leaders and innovators at its Grand Opening and will announce a call for applications for two $125,000 innovation prizes with submission deadline of May 31, 2019

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Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.

Apr 10, 2019, 07:00 ET

PASADENA, Calif. and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE), an urban office REIT uniquely focused on collaborative life science and technology campuses in AAA innovation clusters, today celebrates the inaugural member class of seed- and early-stage life science companies at the Alexandria LaunchLabs^® – Cambridge with a highly curated Grand Opening event. The 20,000 RSF space, located at the Alexandria Center^® at One Kendall Square, is now home to 13 new member companies rigorously selected from a deep pool of applicants based on the quality of their science, leadership teams and business strategies. Alexandria also offers a unique opportunity to access capital through the Alexandria Seed Capital Platform, which is led by Alexandria Venture Investments and supported by a preeminent group of member biopharmaceutical and venture entities. The Alexandria Seed Capital Platform recently closed on its first investment in a Cambridge‑based company.

"Alexandria LaunchLabs – Cambridge and the complementary Alexandria Seed Capital Platform offer a one-of-a-kind, unique environment focused on building highly successful companies within the Alexandria ecosystem that will continue to drive the innovation that is key to treating and curing disease," said Joel S. Marcus, executive chairman and founder of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. and Alexandria Venture Investments. "As LaunchLabs approaches six months of operations at One Kendall Square, we have strategically assembled a pioneering group of outstanding early-stage life science companies with highly differentiated technologies to improve human health. We have a deep understanding of the unique needs of early-stage life science companies and remain steadfast in our efforts to catalyze the next generation of best-in-class companies and entrepreneurs."

Alexandria LaunchLabs – Cambridge provides member companies with highly flexible, turnkey office/laboratory space, sophisticated mentorship and access to Alexandria's expansive network, as well as strategic risk capital through the Alexandria Seed Capital Platform. The dynamic space and the deeply experienced Alexandria LaunchLabs team currently support innovative member companies working to solve critical unmet needs for human and animal health by utilizing a range of cutting-edge science and new technologies, including artificial intelligence−enabled drug discovery, synthetic biology, new gene editing modalities and the microbiome. Demonstrating the company's significant commitment to sustainability and health, Alexandria LaunchLabs – Cambridge has achieved LEED Gold certification for its efficient and responsible design and construction practices and a Fitwel 3 Star Rating for its ability to support the highest levels of member health, wellness and productivity.

As a testament to the high quality of companies due-diligenced and selected for Alexandria LaunchLabs, the Alexandria Seed Capital Platform made its first Cambridge investment in Holobiome, Inc. A member company at Alexandria LaunchLabs – Cambridge, Holobiome is developing novel microbiome therapeutics for diseases of the nervous system by using a mechanism-based approach to look at the gut-brain axis. After presenting to Alexandria Seed Capital Platform members, made up of preeminent biopharmaceutical and venture entities, the company went on to raise an initial seed round from Alexandria Venture Investments and another early-stage investor. Holobiome has also been successful on the partnering front, recently announcing its second research collaboration with Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC to create novel microbiome therapeutics for digestive disorders.

"There are numerous challenges when starting a company in the life sciences, but two of the first are finding funding and a home," said Philip Strandwitz, CEO and co-founder of Holobiome, Inc. "Fortunately, Alexandria is an unparalleled and best-in-class purveyor of both, and with their LaunchLabs and Seed Capital platforms, they provide a unique ecosystem and highly curated support that entrepreneurs and innovations need to thrive. The Holobiome team is delighted to call LaunchLabs our home, and to have Alexandria as a partner and seed investor."

To celebrate the innovation that Alexandria LaunchLabs – Cambridge has already driven and will continue to drive in the cluster, Alexandria is convening longstanding leaders and innovators from the Cambridge life science ecosystem for a highly interactive program at its Grand Opening. This dynamic forum will include fireside chats and discussions featuring Jay Bradner, M.D., president of Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research; Nobel laureate Phillip Sharp, Ph.D., institute professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research; Noubar Afeyan, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Flagship Pioneering; and Alexis Borisy, partner of Third Rock Ventures. Chief executive officers from select Alexandria LaunchLabs – Cambridge member companies will detail the inside story on building and running startup companies in Cambridge.

Additionally, Alexandria will kick off the call for applications for two $125,000 Alexandria LaunchLabs Innovation Prizes to recognize excellence in early-stage science, leadership and business strategy. The first prize is open to Massachusetts-based life science entrepreneurs, and the second is open to academic spinouts nominated by local technology transfer offices. Prize entries, which will be considered by an esteemed selection committee of strategic partners from the Cambridge biopharma and venture capital community, will be accepted until May 31, 2019. Prize winners will be announced in June 2019, and each winner will receive $100,000 to support research and development, along with one year of office/laboratory space at Alexandria LaunchLabs – Cambridge worth an additional $25,000.

To learn more about Alexandria LaunchLabs and the Alexandria Seed Capital Platform, and for more details on the 2019 Alexandria LaunchLabs Innovation Prizes, please visit www.alexandrialaunchlabs.com.

About Alexandria LaunchLabs
Alexandria LaunchLabs is the premier, full-service startup platform designed to dramatically accelerate the growth of early-stage life science and agtech companies. With life science sites at the Alexandria Center^® for Life Science in New York City and the Alexandria Center^® at One Kendall Square in Cambridge and an agtech site at the Alexandria Center^® for AgTech in the Research Triangle, Alexandria LaunchLabs provides move-in-ready office/laboratory space, first-class support resources, shared equipment and services, creative amenities and access to startup capital through the Alexandria Seed Capital Platform to drive life-changing innovation. Alexandria LaunchLabs is currently accepting applications for future members in New York City, Cambridge and the Research Triangle. For more information or to apply, please visit www.alexandrialaunchlabs.com.

About Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE), an S&P 500^® company, is an urban office REIT uniquely focused on collaborative life science and technology campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations, with a total market capitalization of $18.4 billion and an asset base in North America of 33.1 million SF as of December 31, 2018. The asset base in North America includes 22.4 million RSF of operating properties and 3.9 million RSF of development and redevelopment of new Class A properties currently undergoing construction and pre-construction activities with target delivery dates ranging from 2019 through 2020. Additionally, the asset base in North America includes 6.8 million SF of intermediate-term and future development projects. Founded in 1994, Alexandria pioneered this niche and has since established a significant market presence in key locations, including Greater Boston, San Francisco, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland and Research Triangle. Alexandria has a longstanding and proven track record of developing Class A properties clustered in urban life science and technology campuses that provide our innovative tenants with highly dynamic and collaborative environments that enhance their ability to successfully recruit and retain world-class talent and inspire productivity, efficiency, creativity and success. Alexandria also provides strategic capital to transformative life science and technology companies through our venture capital arm. We believe our unique business model and diligent underwriting ensure a high-quality and diverse tenant base that results in higher occupancy levels, longer lease terms, higher rental income, higher returns and greater long-term asset value. For additional information on Alexandria, please visit www.are.com.